ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It's no secret that senior quarterback Denard Robinson is what makes Michigan's offense go. So when he went down in the first quarter against Illinois with what was later referred to as a "boo boo," there were a few fears when redshirt freshman Russell Bellomy began warming up on the sideline. And while he didn't wow the crowds with a ground-breaking performance, Bellomy also didn't break under the pressure.

Backup quarterback Russell Bellomy (8) runs the ball in the second half against Illinois.

Robinson had left Bellomy and the rest of the Michigan offense in good position, on the Illinois 9-yard line with three downs to reach the end zone. And while the Wolverines would have to settle for a field goal on Bellomy's first drive against Illinois, Michigan coach Brady Hoke was happy to get his backup into the game.

"It always is [critical]," Hoke said of getting Bellomy into the game. "We're very excited about Russ Bellomy, and have been. And he came in there with a lot of confidence."

Bellomy finished the game with just one completion -- for eight yards -- on three attempts. And he displayed a bit of running ability, rushing twice for eight yards.

It wasn't a highlight-reel game by any stretch of the imagination, but it was significant time for a player backing up Robinson, a quarterback who has been prone to injury in Big Ten seasons past. And Hoke was happy with how the redshirt freshman performed under pressure.

"He's a guy that we think is a good quarterback," Hoke said. "That's why we recruited him. It was good to get him some work."